Bandwidth information determination for flexible bandwidth carriers

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are provided for mobility management for wireless communications systems that utilize a flexible bandwidth carrier. Some embodiments include approaches for determining bandwidth information, such as one or more bandwidth scaling factors N and/or flexible bandwidths, at a user equipment (UE), where the bandwidth information may not be signaled to the UE. Embodiments for determining bandwidth information include: random ordered bandwidth scaling factor approaches, delay ordered bandwidth scaling factor approaches, storing bandwidth scaling factor value in UE Neighbor Record approaches, spectrum measurement approaches, spectrum calculation approaches, and/or a priori approaches. Flexible bandwidth carrier systems may utilize spectrum portions that may not be big enough to fit a normal waveform. Flexible bandwidth carrier systems may be generated through dilating, or scaling down, time, frame lengths, bandwidth, or the chip rate of the flexible bandwidth carrier systems with respect to a normal bandwidth carrier system.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present Application for Patent is a Divisional of patent applicationSer. No. 13/670,308 entitled “BANDWIDTH INFORMATION DETERMINATION FORFLEXIBLE BANDWIDTH CARRIERS” filed Nov. 6, 2012, which in turn claimspriority to Provisional Application No. 61/556,777 entitled “FRACTIONALSYSTEMS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS” filed Nov. 7, 2011, and also claimspriority to Provisional Application No. 61/568,742 entitled “SIGNALCAPACITY BOOSTING, COORDINATED FORWARD LINK BLANKING AND POWER BOOSTING,AND REVERSE LINK THROUGHPUT INCREASING FOR FLEXIBLE BANDWIDTH SYSTEMS”filed Dec. 9, 2011, and further claims priority to ProvisionalApplication No. 61/607,502 entitled “MOBILITY MANAGEMENT FOR FLEXIBLEBANDWIDTH SYSTEMS AND DEVICES” filed Mar. 6, 2012, each of which isassigned to the assignee hereof and is hereby expressly incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data,messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-accesssystems capable of supporting communication with multiple users bysharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, andpower). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-divisionmultiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA)systems, frequency-division multiple access (1-DMA) systems, 3GPP LongTerm Evolution (LTE) systems, and orthogonal frequency-division multipleaccess (OFDMA) systems.

Service providers are typically allocated blocks of frequency spectrumfor exclusive use in certain geographic regions. These blocks offrequencies are generally assigned by regulators regardless of themultiple access technology being used. In most cases, these blocks arenot integer multiple of channel bandwidths, hence there may beunutilized parts of the spectrum. As the use of wireless devices hasincreased, the demand for and value of this spectrum has generallysurged, as well. Nonetheless, in some cases, wireless communicationssystems may not utilize portions of the allocated spectrum because theportions are not big enough to fit a standard or normal waveform. Thedevelopers of the LTE standard, for example, recognized the problem anddecided to support 6 different system bandwidths, namely 1.4, 3, 5, 10,15 and 20 MHz. Another approach may be to utilize flexible bandwidthcarrier systems that may involve wireless communications systems thatutilize portions of spectrum that may not fit a normal waveform.However, different mobility management issues may arise when utilizingflexible bandwidth carrier systems, such as facilitating migrationbetween mixed legacy and flexible bandwidth carrier systems, or evenother flexible bandwidth carrier systems.

SUMMARY

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications systems thatutilize flexible bandwidth are provided. Some embodiments providemobility management for mixed legacy and flexible bandwidth systems.Some embodiments include approaches for determining bandwidthinformation, such as a bandwidth scaling factor N and/or flexiblebandwidth, at a user equipment (UE). In some cases, the bandwidthinformation may not be signaled to a UE. As a result, the UE may have todetermine which bandwidth information hypotheses to use in acquiring anddecoding information on the cell, which may be a flexible bandwidthcell, though may be a normal bandwidth (i.e., N=1) cell in some cases.Different approaches may be utilized in determining bandwidthinformation including, but not limited to: random ordered bandwidthscaling factor approaches, delay ordered bandwidth scaling factorapproaches, stored bandwidth scaling factor value in UE Neighbor Recordapproaches, spectrum measurement approaches, spectrum calculationapproaches, and/or a priori approaches. Other approaches may include amapping of frequency to bandwidth scaling factor (e.g., in a searchingmechanism). These approaches may also be based on flexible bandwidthsrather than bandwidth scaling factors.

Flexible bandwidth carrier systems may involve wireless communicationssystems that may utilize portions of spectrum that may not be big enoughto fit a normal waveform through utilizing flexible waveforms. Aflexible bandwidth carrier system may be generated with respect to anormal bandwidth carrier system through dilating a frame length orscaling down a chip rate of the flexible bandwidth carrier system withrespect to the normal bandwidth carrier system, for example. In someembodiments, a flexible bandwidth carrier system may be generated withrespect to a normal bandwidth carrier system through dilating the framelengths, or scaling down, the bandwidth of the flexible bandwidthcarrier system with respect to the normal bandwidth carrier system. Someembodiments increase the bandwidth of a flexible waveform throughexpanding, or scaling up a chip rate of the flexible bandwidth carriersystem. Some embodiments increase the bandwidth of a flexible waveformthrough decreasing the frame lengths, or scaling up the bandwidth of theflexible bandwidth carrier system.

Some embodiments include a method for wireless communications that mayinclude: interpreting, at a user equipment (UE), a first set of receiveddata; and/or determining, at the UE utilizing the first set of receiveddata, a bandwidth information associated with a flexible bandwidthcarrier, the bandwidth information comprising a second set of datadifferent from the first set of data in that the second set of dataincludes the bandwidth information.

The bandwidth information may include at least a bandwidth scalingfactor or a bandwidth associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.Some embodiments include utilizing, at the UE, the determined bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier to facilitatemobility management with respect to the flexible bandwidth carrier.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a sequence of bandwidth scalingfactors to determine a bandwidth scaling factor associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier. The sequence of bandwidth scaling factorsmay include a random sequence of bandwidth scaling factors. The sequenceof bandwidth scaling factors may include a pre-determined sequence ofbandwidth scaling factors. The pre-determined sequence may include asequence of increasing bandwidth scaling factors. The pre-determinedsequence may include a sequence of bandwidth scaling factors startingwith a current bandwidth scaling factor of a cell sending the first setof received data. The sequence of bandwidth scaling factors may be atleast determined by the UE and stored for subsequent use, set by amanufacturer, set by an operator, or set in a SIM. Utilizing thepre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors may includeutilizing one or more cell search and blind decodes of a flexiblebandwidth cell based on the bandwidth scaling factors from thepre-determined sequence.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a stored bandwidth scalingfactor to determine the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier. Determining the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing oneor more spectrum measurements to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. Determining thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier mayinclude utilizing one or more spectrum calculations to determine thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a priori information regardingone or more bandwidth scaling factors of the flexible bandwidth carrierto determine the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a priori information regardingthe probability of deploying one or more flexible bandwidth carrierswith one or more bandwidth scaling factors in a given area to determinethe bandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidthcarrier. The a priori information may be at least transmitted to the UE,calculated at the UE and used subsequently, or provided to the UEthrough a SIM. In some embodiments, the bandwidth information dependsupon a location.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a priori information regardingthe probability of deploying one or more flexible bandwidth carrierswith one or more bandwidth scaling factors in a given area combined witha pre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determine thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.

Facilitating mobility management may include facilitating mobilitybetween the one of more flexible bandwidth carriers and another flexiblebandwidth carrier, wherein the flexible bandwidth carriers utilize thesame bandwidth scaling factor. Facilitating mobility management mayinclude facilitating mobility between the one of more flexible bandwidthcarriers and another flexible bandwidth carrier, wherein the flexiblebandwidth carriers utilize different bandwidth scaling factors.Facilitating mobility management may include facilitating mobilitybetween the one of more flexible bandwidth carriers and normal bandwidthcarrier.

Some embodiments include a wireless communications system. The systemmay include: means for interpreting, at a user equipment (UE), a firstset of received data; and/or means for determining, at the UE utilizingthe first set of received data, a bandwidth information associated witha flexible bandwidth carrier, the bandwidth information comprising asecond set of data different from the first set of data in that thesecond set of data includes the bandwidth information.

The wireless communications system may include means for utilizing, atthe UE, the determined bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier to facilitate mobility management withrespect to the flexible bandwidth carrier.

The means for determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include means for utilizing a randomsequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The meansfor determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include means for utilizing a pre-determinedsequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. Thepre-determined sequence may include a sequence of increasing bandwidthscaling factors. The pre-determined sequence may include a sequence ofbandwidth scaling factors starting with a current bandwidth scalingfactor of a cell sending the first set of received data. The means forutilizing the pre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors mayinclude means for utilizes one or more cell search and blind decodes ofa flexible bandwidth cell based on the bandwidth scaling factors fromthe pre-determined sequence.

The means for determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include means for utilizing a storedbandwidth scaling factor to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The means fordetermining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include means for utilizing one or more spectrummeasurements to determine the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier. The means for determining the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includemeans for utilizing one or more spectrum calculations to determine thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.The means for determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include means for utilizing a prioriinformation regarding one or more bandwidth scaling factors of theflexible bandwidth carrier to determine the bandwidth scaling factorassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The means fordetermining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include means for utilizing a priori informationregarding the probability of deploying one or more flexible bandwidthcarriers with one or more bandwidth scaling factors in a given area todetermine the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier.

Some embodiments include a computer program product for wirelesscommunications systems that may include a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium that may include: code for interpreting, at auser equipment (UE), a first set of received data; and/or code fordetermining, at the UE utilizing the first set of received data, abandwidth information associated with a flexible bandwidth carrier, thebandwidth information comprising a second set of data different from thefirst set of data in that the second set of data includes the bandwidthinformation.

The non-transitory computer-readable medium may further include code forutilizing, at the UE, the determined bandwidth information associatedwith the flexible bandwidth carrier to facilitate mobility managementwith respect to the flexible bandwidth carrier. The code for determiningthe bandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carriermay include code for utilizing a random sequence of bandwidth scalingfactors to determine the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier. The code for determining the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includecode for utilizing a pre-determined sequence of bandwidth scalingfactors to determine the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier. The pre-determined sequence may include asequence of increasing bandwidth scaling factors. The pre-determinedsequence may include a sequence of bandwidth scaling factors startingwith a current bandwidth scaling factor of a cell sending the first setof received data. The code for utilizing the pre-determined sequence ofbandwidth scaling factors may include code for utilizes one or more cellsearch and blind decodes of a flexible bandwidth cell based on thebandwidth scaling factors from the pre-determined sequence.

The code for determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include code for utilizing a storedbandwidth information to determine the bandwidth information associatedwith the flexible bandwidth carrier. The code for determining thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier mayinclude code for utilizing one or more spectrum measurements todetermine the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier. The code for determining the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may include code forutilizing one or more spectrum calculations to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The code fordetermining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include code for utilizing a priori informationregarding one or more bandwidth scaling factors of the flexiblebandwidth carrier to determine the bandwidth information associated withthe flexible bandwidth carrier. The code for determining the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includecode for utilizing a priori information regarding the probability ofdeploying one or more flexible bandwidth carriers with one or morebandwidth scaling factors in a given area to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.

Some embodiments include a wireless communications device that mayinclude at least one processor that may be configured to: interpret, ata user equipment (UE), a first set of received data; and/or determine,at the UE utilizing the first set of received data, a bandwidthinformation associated with a flexible bandwidth carrier, the bandwidthinformation comprising a second set of data different from the first setof data in that the second set of data includes the bandwidthinformation. The wireless communications device may also include atleast one memory coupled with the at least one processor.

The at least one processor may be further configured to utilize, at theUE, the determined bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier to facilitate mobility management with respect to theflexible bandwidth carrier. The at least one processor configured todetermine the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may be configured to utilize a random sequence ofbandwidth scaling factors to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The at least oneprocessor configured to determine the bandwidth information associatedwith the flexible bandwidth carrier may be configured to utilize apre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determine thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.The pre-determined sequence may include a sequence of increasingbandwidth scaling factors. The pre-determined sequence may include asequence of bandwidth scaling factors starting with a current bandwidthscaling factor of a cell sending the first set of received data.

The at least one processor configured to utilizing the pre-determinedsequence of bandwidth scaling factors may be configured to utilize oneor more cell search and blind decodes of a flexible bandwidth cell basedon the bandwidth scaling factors from the pre-determined sequence. Theat least one processor configured to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may be configured toutilize a stored bandwidth information to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The at leastone processor configured to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may be configured toutilize one or more spectrum measurements to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The at leastone processor configured to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may be configured toutilize one or more spectrum calculations to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The at leastone processor configured to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may be configured toutilize a priori information regarding one or more bandwidth scalingfactors of the flexible bandwidth carrier to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The at leastone processor configured to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may be configured toutilize a priori information regarding the probability of deploying oneor more flexible bandwidth carriers with one or more bandwidth scalingfactors in a given area to determine the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. The at least oneprocessor configured to determine the bandwidth information associatedwith the flexible bandwidth carrier may be configured to utilize apriori information regarding the probability of deploying one or moreflexible bandwidth carriers with one or more bandwidth scaling factorsin a given area combined with a pre-determined sequence of bandwidthscaling factors to determine the bandwidth information associated withthe flexible bandwidth carrier.

In some embodiments, facilitating mobility management includesfacilitating mobility between the one of more flexible bandwidthcarriers and another flexible bandwidth carrier, wherein the flexiblebandwidth carriers utilize the same bandwidth information to determinethe bandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidthcarrier. Facilitating mobility management may include facilitatingmobility between the one of more flexible bandwidth carriers and anotherflexible bandwidth carrier, wherein the flexible bandwidth carriersutilize different bandwidth scaling factors to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. Facilitatingmobility management may include facilitating mobility between the one ofmore flexible bandwidth carriers and normal bandwidth carrier todetermine the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of examples according to the disclosure in order that thedetailed description that follows may be better understood. Additionalfeatures and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conceptionand specific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Features whichare believed to be characteristic of the concepts disclosed herein, bothas to their organization and method of operation, together withassociated advantages will be better understood from the followingdescription when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.Each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only, and not as a definition of the limits of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In theappended figures, similar components or features may have the samereference label. Further, various components of the same type may bedistinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a wireless communications system inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2A shows an example of a wireless communications system where aflexible waveform fits into a portion of spectrum not broad enough tofit a normal waveform in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2B shows an example of a wireless communications system where aflexible waveform fits into a portion of spectrum near an edge of a bandin accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a wireless communications system inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram illustrating mobility management proceduresin accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 5 shows a table that includes several mobility management scenariosin accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 6A shows a flow diagram in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 6B shows a flow diagram in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 7 shows spectrum diagrams in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 8 shows a communications diagram in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a device in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a user equipment in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of a wireless communications system inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a wireless communications system thatincludes a base station and a user equipment in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 13A shows a flow diagram of a method of wireless communications inaccordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 13B shows a flow diagram of a method of wireless communications inaccordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications systems thatutilize flexible bandwidth are provided. Some embodiments providemobility management for mixed legacy and flexible bandwidth systems.Some embodiments include approaches for determining bandwidthinformation, such as a bandwidth scaling factor N and/or a flexiblebandwidth, at a user equipment (UE). In some cases, the bandwidthinformation may not be signaled to a UE. As a result, the UE may have todetermine which bandwidth information hypotheses to use in acquiring anddecoding information on the cell, which may be a flexible bandwidthcell, though may be a normal bandwidth (i.e., N=1) cell in some cases.Different approaches may be utilized in determining bandwidthinformation including, but not limited to: random ordered bandwidthscaling factor approaches, delay ordered bandwidth scaling factorapproaches, stored bandwidth scaling factor value in UE Neighbor Recordapproaches, spectrum measurement approaches, spectrum calculationapproaches, and/or a priori approaches. Other approaches may include amapping of frequency to bandwidth scaling factor (e.g., in a searchingmechanism). These different approaches may be done in parallel orserially in some cases. These different approaches may also be combined.These approaches may also be based on flexible bandwidths rather thanbandwidth scaling factors.

Some embodiments include one or more flexible bandwidth carrier networksthat may be designed for low data rate applications and may be used alsoin soft re-framing scenarios. In a mixed legacy and flexible bandwidthcarrier deployment (e.g., GSM, UMTS, and flexible bandwidth carriernetworks), multi-mode flexible bandwidth UEs may be able to migratebetween these networks. Embodiments address different issues that mayarise in these mixed systems including, but not limited to: the impactsof the mobility management procedure with respect to deploying aflexible bandwidth carrier or cell in network with existing systems,such as UMTS or GSM; and/or network signaling of information about aflexible bandwidth carrier or cell to flexible bandwidth UEs.

Flexible bandwidth carrier systems may involve wireless communicationssystems that may utilize portions of spectrum that may not be big enoughto fit a normal waveform utilizing flexible waveforms. A flexiblebandwidth carrier system may be generated with respect to a normalbandwidth carrier system through dilating the frame length, or scalingdown, a chip rate of the flexible bandwidth carrier system with respectto the normal bandwidth carrier system, for example. In someembodiments, a flexible bandwidth carrier system may be generated withrespect to a normal bandwidth carrier system through dilating the framelengths, or scaling down, the bandwidth of the flexible bandwidthcarrier system with respect to the normal bandwidth carrier system. Someembodiments increase the bandwidth of a flexible waveform throughexpanding, or scaling up the chip rate of the flexible bandwidth carriersystem. Some embodiments increase the bandwidth of a flexible waveformthrough decreasing the frame lengths, or scaling up the bandwidth of theflexible bandwidth carrier system.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunications systems such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA,Peer-to-Peer, and other systems. The terms “system” and “network” areoften used interchangeably. A CDMA system may implement a radiotechnology such as CDMA2000, Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA),etc. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards. IS-2000Releases 0 and A are commonly referred to as CDMA2000 1×, 1×, etc.IS-856 (TIA-856) is commonly referred to as CDMA2000 1×EV-DO, High RatePacket Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and othervariants of CDMA. A TDMA system may implement a radio technology such asGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA or OFDM systemmay implement a radio technology such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB),Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE802.20, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal MobileTelecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) andLTE-Advanced (LTE-A) are new releases of UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA,E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, and GSM are described in documents from anorganization named “3rd Generation Partnership Project” (3GPP). CDMA2000and UMB are described in documents from an organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2). The techniques describedherein may be used for the systems and radio technologies mentionedabove as well as other systems and radio technologies.

Thus, the following description provides examples, and is not limitingof the scope, applicability, or configuration set forth in the claims.Changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elementsdiscussed without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.Various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may beperformed in an order different from that described, and various stepsmay be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described withrespect to certain embodiments may be combined in other embodiments.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a block diagram illustrates an example of awireless communications system 100 in accordance with variousembodiments. The system 100 includes base stations 105, user equipment115, a base station controller 120, and a core network 130 (thecontroller 120 may be integrated into the core network 130 in someembodiments; in some embodiments, controller 120 may be integrated intobase stations 105). The system 100 may support operation on multiplecarriers (waveform signals of different frequencies). Multi-carriertransmitters can transmit modulated signals simultaneously on themultiple carriers. Each modulated signal may be a Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA) signal, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signal,Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) signal, Orthogonal FDMA(OFDMA) signal, Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) signal, etc. Eachmodulated signal may be sent on a different carrier and may carrycontrol information (e.g., pilot signals), overhead information, data,etc. The system 100 may be a multi-carrier LTE network capable ofefficiently allocating network resources.

The user equipment 115 may be any type of mobile station, mobile device,access terminal, subscriber unit, or user equipment. The user equipment115 may include cellular phones and wireless communications devices, butmay also include personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, otherhandheld devices, netbooks, notebook computers, etc. Thus, the term userequipment should be interpreted broadly hereinafter, including theclaims, to include any type of wireless or mobile communications device.

The base stations 105 may wirelessly communicate with the user equipment115 via a base station antenna. The base stations 105 may be configuredto communicate with the user equipment 115 under the control of thecontroller 120 via multiple carriers. In GSM, for example, thecontroller 120 may be referred to as the base station controller (BSC);in UMTS, the controller may be known as the Radio Network Controller(RNC). Each of the base station 105 sites can provide communicationcoverage for a respective geographic area. In some embodiments, basestations 105 may be referred to as a NodeB, eNodeB, Home NodeB, and/orHome eNodeB. The coverage area for each base station 105 here isidentified as 110-a, 110-b, or 110-c. The coverage area for a basestation may be divided into sectors (not shown, but making up only aportion of the coverage area). The system 100 may include base stations105 of different types (e.g., macro, micro, femto, and/or pico basestations).

The different aspects of system 100, such as the user equipment 115, thebase stations 105, the core network 130, and/or the controller 120 maybe configured to utilize flexible bandwidth carriers and waveforms inaccordance with various embodiments. System 100, for example, showstransmissions 125 between user equipment 115 and base stations 105. Thetransmissions 125 may include uplink and/or reverse link transmission,from a user equipment 115 to a base station 105, and/or downlink and/orforward link transmissions, from a base station 105 to a user equipment115. The transmissions 125 may include flexible and/or normal waveforms.Normal waveforms may also be referred to as legacy and/or normalwaveforms.

The different aspects of system 100, such as the user equipment 115, thebase stations 105, the core network 130, and/or the controller 120 maybe configured to utilize flexible bandwidth and waveforms in accordancewith various embodiments. For example, different aspects of system 100may utilize portions of spectrum that may not be big enough to fit anormal waveform. Devices such as the user equipment 115, the basestations 105, the core network 130, and/or the controller 120 may beconfigured to adapt the chip rates and/or scaling factors to generateand/or utilize flexible bandwidth and/or waveforms. Some aspects ofsystem 100 may form a flexible subsystem (such as certain user equipment115 and/or base stations 105) that may be generated with respect to anormal subsystem (that may be implemented using other user equipment 115and/or base stations 105) through dilating, or scaling down, the time orthe chip rate of the flexible bandwidth carrier system with respect tothe normal bandwidth carrier system. In some embodiments, a flexiblesubsystem may be generated with respect to a normal subsystem throughdilating the frame lengths, or scaling down, the bandwidth of theflexible subsystem with respect to the normal subsystem. Someembodiments increase the bandwidth of a flexible waveform throughexpanding, or scaling up the time or the chip rate of the flexiblesubsystem. Some embodiments increase the bandwidth of a flexiblewaveform through decreasing the frame lengths, or scaling up thebandwidth of the flexible subsystem.

In some embodiments, the different aspects of system 100, such as theuser equipment 115 may be configured for determining bandwidthinformation, such as one or more bandwidth scaling factors N and/orbandwidths, which may also be referred to as scaling factors or flexiblescaling factor or flexible bandwidths, at the UE 115. Differentapproaches may be utilized in determining bandwidth informationincluding, but not limited to: random ordered N approaches, delayordered N approaches, stored N value in UE Neighbor Record approaches,spectrum measurement approaches, spectrum calculation approaches, and/ora priori approaches. Information regarding the bandwidth scaling factorand/or bandwidths may be stored in other areas, including multipleareas. Other approaches may include a mapping of frequency to bandwidthscaling factor and/or a bandwidth (e.g., in a searching mechanism).These different approaches may be done in parallel or serially in somecases. These different approaches may also be combined. In some cases,information such as a flexible bandwidth itself may be stored ratherthan a bandwidth scaling factor for the flexible bandwidth. Someembodiments include interpreting a first set of received data at a UE115. Bandwidth information associated with a flexible bandwidth carriermay be determined at the UE 115 utilizing the first set of receiveddata. The flexible bandwidth carrier may be utilized by one of the basestations 105, for example. The bandwidth information may include asecond set of data different from the first set of data in that thesecond set of data includes the bandwidth information. Determining thebandwidth information at the UE 115 may facilitate mobility managementwith respect to a flexible bandwidth carrier that may also utilize thedetermined bandwidth information. The bandwidth information may includeleast a bandwidth scaling factor or a bandwidth associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier.

Some embodiments may include user equipment 115 and/or base stations 105that may generate flexible waveforms and/or normal waveforms. Flexiblewaveforms may occupy less bandwidth than a normal waveform. For example,at a band edge, there may not be enough available spectrum to place anormal waveform. For a flexible waveform in some embodiments, as time(e.g., frame length) gets dilated, the frequency occupied by a waveformgoes down, thus making it possible to fit a flexible waveform intospectrum that may not be broad enough to fit a normal waveform. Flexiblewaveforms may also be generated in some embodiments through using ascaling factor. In some embodiments, a flexible bandwidth carrier may beutilized to carry the flexible waveform. Other embodiments may generatea flexible waveform to fit a portion of spectrum through altering a rateor chip rate (e.g., a spreading factor may change). Some embodiments maychange a frequency of processing to change a chip rate or utilize ascaling factor. Changing frequency of processing may include changing aninterpolation rate, an interrupt rate, and/or a decimation rate. In someembodiments, a chip rate may be changed or a scaling factor utilizedthrough filtering, by decimation, and/or by changing a frequency of anADC, a DAC, and/or an offline clock. A divider may be used to change thefrequency of at least one clock. In some embodiments, a chip ratedivider (Dcr) may be utilized. In some embodiments, a scaling factor fora flexible bandwidth carrier may be referred to as a bandwidth scalingfactor.

In some embodiments, a flexible system or waveform may be a fractionalsystem or waveform. Fractional systems and/or waveforms may or may notchange bandwidth for example. A fractional system or waveform may beflexible because it may offer more possibilities than a normal system orwaveform (e.g., N=1 system). A normal system or waveform may refer to astandard and/or legacy system or waveform.

FIG. 2A shows an example of a wireless communications system 200-a witha base station 105-a and a user equipment 115-a in accordance withvarious embodiments, where a flexible waveform 210-a fits into a portionof spectrum not broad enough to fit a normal waveform 220-a. System200-a may be an example of system 100 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments,the flexible waveform 210-a may overlap with the normal waveform 220-athat either the base 105-a and/or the user equipment 115-a may transmit.Some embodiments may also utilize multiple flexible waveforms 210. Insome embodiments, another base station and/or user equipment (not shown)may transmit the normal waveform 220-a and/or the flexible waveform210-a. FIG. 2B shows an example of a wireless communications system200-b with a base station 105-b and user equipment 115-b, where aflexible waveform 210-b fits into a portion of spectrum near an edge ofa band, which may be a guard band, where normal waveform 220-b may notfit. System 200-b may be an example of system 100 of FIG. 1.

In some embodiments, the user equipment 115-a and/or 115-b areconfigured for determining bandwidth information associated with aflexible bandwidth carrier, such as a bandwidth scaling factor N and/ora flexible bandwidth. Different approaches may be utilized indetermining N including, but not limited to: random ordered Napproaches, delay ordered N approaches, stored N value in UE NeighborRecord approaches, spectrum measurement approaches, spectrum calculationapproaches, and/or a priori approaches. Some embodiments includeinterpreting a first set of received data at user equipment 115-a and/or115-b. The bandwidth information associated with a flexible bandwidthcarrier may be determined at the UE utilizing the first set of receiveddata. The bandwidth information may include a second set of datadifferent from the first set of data in that the second set of dataincludes the bandwidth information. Determining the bandwidthinformation at the user equipment 115-a and/or 115-b may facilitatemobility management with respect to a flexible bandwidth carrier thatmay also utilize the determined bandwidth information. The bandwidthinformation may include least a bandwidth scaling factor or a bandwidthassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.

FIG. 3 shows a wireless communications system 300 with base stations105-c and user equipment 115-c and 115-d, in accordance with variousembodiments. Some embodiments include interpreting a first set ofreceived data at user equipment 115-c and/or 115-d. Transmissions 305-aand/or 305-b between the user equipment 115-c and/or 115-d and the basestation 105-c may be utilized to provide the data to user equipment115-c and/or 115-d. A bandwidth information associated with a flexiblebandwidth carrier may be determined at user equipment 115-c and/or 115-dutilizing the first set of received data. The bandwidth information mayinclude a second set of data different from the first set of data inthat the second set of data includes the bandwidth information.Determining the bandwidth information at the UE may facilitate mobilitymanagement with respect to a flexible bandwidth carrier that may alsoutilize the determined bandwidth information. The bandwidth informationmay include least a bandwidth scaling factor or a bandwidth associatedwith the flexible bandwidth carrier.

Transmissions 305-a and/or 305-b between the user equipment 115-c and/or115-d and the base station 105-c may utilize flexible waveforms that maybe generated to occupy less (or more) bandwidth than a normal waveform.For example, at a band edge, there may not be enough available spectrumto place a normal waveform. For a flexible waveform, as time getsdilated, the frequency occupied by a waveform goes down, thus making itpossible to fit a flexible waveform into spectrum that may not be broadenough to fit a normal waveform. In some embodiments, the flexiblewaveform may be scaled utilizing a scaling factor N with respect to anormal waveform. Scaling factor N may be referred to as a bandwidthscaling factor. Scaling factor N may be utilized to scaling a bandwidthfor a flexible bandwidth carrier. Scaling factor N may take on numerousdifferent values including, but not limited to, integer values such as1, 2, 3, 4, 8, etc. N, however, does not have to be an integer. In somecases, a chip rate divider (Dcr) may be utilized, which may have thesame numerical value as a bandwidth scaling factor. Merely by way ofexample, a flexible bandwidth system with N=2 may occupy half thebandwidth of a normal bandwidth system or flexible bandwidth system withN=1.

Some embodiments include utilizing, at the user equipment 115-c and/or115-d, the determined bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier to facilitate mobility management with respect to theflexible bandwidth carrier. Facilitating mobility management may includefacilitating mobility between the one of more flexible bandwidthcarriers and another flexible bandwidth carrier, where the flexiblebandwidth carriers utilize the same information, such as the samebandwidth scaling factor and/or the same flexible bandwidth.Facilitating mobility management may include facilitating mobilitybetween the one of more flexible bandwidth carriers and another flexiblebandwidth carrier, where the flexible bandwidth carriers utilizedifferent information, such as different bandwidth scaling factorsand/or different flexible bandwidths. Facilitating mobility managementmay include facilitating mobility between the one of more flexiblebandwidth carriers and normal bandwidth carrier.

Determining, at user equipment 115-c and/or 115-d, the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includeutilizing a random sequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determinethe bandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidthcarrier. Determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing a pre-determinedsequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determine the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. Thepre-determined sequence may include a sequence of increasing bandwidthscaling factors. The pre-determined sequence may include a sequence ofbandwidth scaling factors starting with a current bandwidth scalingfactor of a cell sending the first set of received data. Utilizing thepre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors may utilize one ormore cell search and blind decodes based on the bandwidth scalingfactors from the pre-determined sequence.

Determining, at user equipment 115-c and/or 115-d, the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includeutilizing a stored bandwidth scaling factor. Determining the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includeutilizing one or more spectrum measurements. Determining the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includeutilizing one or more spectrum calculations.

Determining, at user equipment 115-c and/or 115-d, the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includeutilizing a priori information regarding one or more bandwidth scalingfactors of the flexible bandwidth carrier. Determining the bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may includeutilizing a priori information regarding the probability of deployingone or more flexible bandwidth carriers with one or more bandwidthscaling factors in a given area. Determining the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing apriori information regarding the probability of deploying one or moreflexible bandwidth carriers with one or more bandwidth scaling factorsin a given area combined with the delay ordered scaling factor approach.

Some embodiments may utilize additional terminology. A new unit D may beutilized. The unit D may be “dilated”. The unit is unitless and has thevalue of N. One can talk about time in the flexible system in terms of“dilated time”. For example, a slot of say 10 ms in normal time may berepresented as 10 Dms in flexible time (note: even in normal time, thiswill hold true since N=1 in normal time: D has a value of 1, so 10Dms=10 ms). In time scaling, one can replace most “seconds” with“dilated-seconds”.

As discussed above, a flexible waveform may be a waveform that occupiesless, or more, bandwidth than a normal waveform. Thus, in a flexiblebandwidth carrier system, the same number of symbols and bits may betransmitted over a longer duration compared to a normal bandwidthsystem. This may result in time stretching, whereby slot duration, frameduration, etc., may increase by a scaling factor N. Scaling factor N mayrepresent the ratio of the flexible bandwidth (BW) to the normalbandwidth. Thus, data rate in a flexible bandwidth system may equalNormal Rate×1/N, and delay may equal Normal Delay×N. In general, aflexible systems channel BW=channel BW of normal systems/N.Delay-Bandwidth product, Delay×BW, may remain unchanged. Furthermore, insome embodiments, a flexible waveform may be a waveform that occupiesmore bandwidth than a normal waveform.

Throughout this specification, the term normal system, subsystem, and/orwaveform may be utilized to refer to systems, subsystems, and/orwaveforms that involve embodiments that may utilize a bandwidth scalingfactor that may be equal to one (e.g., N=1) or a normal or standard chiprate. These normal systems, subsystems, and/or waveforms may also bereferred to as standard and/or legacy systems, subsystems, and/orwaveforms. Furthermore, flexible systems, subsystems, and/or waveformsmay be utilized to refer to systems, subsystems, and/or waveforms thatinvolve embodiments that may utilize a bandwidth scaling factor that maynot be equal to one (e.g., N=2, 3, 4, 8, ½, ¼, etc.). For N>1, or if achip rate is decreased, the bandwidth of a waveform may decrease. Someembodiments may utilize bandwidth scaling factors or chip rates thatincrease the bandwidth. For example, if N<1, or if the chip rate isincreased, then a waveform may be expanded to cover bandwidth largerthan a normal waveform. Flexible systems, subsystems, and/or waveformsmay also be referred to as fractional systems, subsystems, and/orwaveforms in some cases. Fractional systems, subsystems, and/orwaveforms may or may not change bandwidth, for example. A fractionalsystem, subsystem, or waveform may be flexible because it may offer morepossibilities than a normal or standard system, subsystem, or waveform(e.g., N=1 system).

Turning now to FIG. 4, a block diagram 400 illustrates mobilitymanagement procedures in accordance with various embodiments. Aspects ofblock diagram may be implemented in whole or in part utilizing variouswireless communications devices including, but not limited to: a basestation 105 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, and/or FIG. 13;a device 900 as seen in FIG. 9, a core network 130 and/or controller 120as seen in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 10,: a user equipment 115 as seen in FIG.1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, FIG. 12, and/or FIG. 13; and/or a device1100 as seen in FIG. 11. At block 405, a network may signal assistanceinformation to UE to assist UE in mobility management. The network maysignal assistance information about neighboring available cells to theUEs, for example. At block 410, bandwidth information, such as one ormore bandwidth scaling factors N or flexible bandwidths, may bedetermined at a UE. This may be part of a search procedure. For example,the UE may search for cells or carriers autonomously and/or with thehelp of the network. The cells may be flexible bandwidth cells; thecarriers may be flexible bandwidth carriers. In some cases, thebandwidth scaling factors and/or flexible bandwidths associated withdifferent flexible bandwidth cells or carriers may be signaled to the UEfrom the network, through a base station, for example. In cases wherethe value of N or the bandwidth is not signaled to the UE, the UE maydetermine the one or more bandwidth scaling factors and/or flexiblebandwidths associated with one or more cells using a variety ofprocedures as discussed herein. For example, many N hypotheses could betried. At block 415, set management procedures may be performed. Forexample, a UE may develop various mobility cell sets to be used forfurther handovers and reselections as shown in block 420.

Embodiments may include a variety of mobility management scenarios. Aflexible bandwidth UE, for example, may use the mobility procedures tomigrate according to different mobility scenarios. A flexible bandwidthUE may move from a flexible bandwidth carrier or cell with bandwidthscaling factor N=x to another flexible bandwidth carrier or cell withthe same N. These cells may be deployed on the same carrier frequencybut separated by different PSCs, for example. The two cells could alsobe deployed on different carrier frequencies in some embodiments. Aflexible bandwidth UE may move from a flexible bandwidth carrier or cellwith N=x to another flexible bandwidth carrier or cell with a differentN, N=y. Both cells may be deployed on different carrier frequencies. Aflexible bandwidth UE may move from a flexible bandwidth carrier or cellwith N=x to a non-flexible, or legacy, cell, such as UMTS and/or GSMcells, for example. Likewise, the UE may move from a non-flexiblebandwidth carrier or cell, or legacy cell, such as UMTS and/or GSM to aflexible bandwidth carrier or cell. Both cells may be deployed ondifferent carrier frequencies. In some cases, the non-flexible bandwidthcarrier or cell, or legacy cell, such as UMTS and/or GSM cells, andflexible bandwidth carrier or cells may be co-located at the same siteor deployed in different sites. In some embodiments, once a UE moves toa flexible bandwidth carrier or cell, it may perform mobility procedures(e.g., send registration message, location area updates, routing areaupdates, etc.) as currently performed in non-flexible networks, orlegacy networks, such as UMTS networks, for example. While some of theabove examples include UMTS and/or GSM cells, other embodiments mayutilize other radio access technologies (RATs). Flexible bandwidthsystem may be treated as an extension (or mode) of the legacy RAT or canbe treated as a separate RAT in some cases.

FIG. 5 shows a table 500 that includes several different mobilityscenarios, though some embodiments may utilize other scenarios.Handover/Reselection scenarios 510 show several different cases ofpossible UE moves from one carrier to another, where the carriers may beflexible bandwidth carriers and/or normal (or legacy) bandwidthcarriers. Deployment scenarios 520 for each case reflect whether thedeployment scenarios may be intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and/orinter-RAT. Aspects of table 500 may be implemented in whole or in partutilizing various wireless communications devices including, but notlimited to: a base station 105 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG.10, and/or FIG. 13; a device 900 as seen in FIG. 9, a core network 130and/or controller 120 as seen in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 10,: a userequipment 115 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, FIG. 12,and/or FIG. 13; and/or a device 1100 as seen in FIG. 11.

Some embodiments may include approaches for determining one or morebandwidth information, such as bandwidth scaling factor N and/orflexible bandwidth, at a UE. In some cases, the flexible bandwidthinformation, such as N, may not be signaled. As a result, the UE mayhave to determine which N hypotheses to use in acquiring and decodinginformation on the cell, which may be a flexible bandwidth cell, thoughmay be a normal bandwidth (i.e., N=1) cell in some cases. Differentapproaches may be utilized in determining N including, but not limitedto: random ordered N approaches, delay ordered N approaches, storing Nvalue in UE Neighbor Record approaches, spectrum measurement approaches,and/or spectrum calculation approaches.

Some embodiments utilize a random order N approach for determining N.For initial acquisition, when no information may be available to the UEregarding flexible bandwidth scaling factor information, it may bepossible to configure a UE with an N which may be always used at duringinitial cell acquisition. The UE may also determine the value of N touse at power up by randomly selecting an N value on the fly. In somecases, the different hypotheses may be tried until successful detection.Some embodiments may utilize a static or non-static list of scalingfactors. For inter-frequency neighboring cell searches, it may bepossible to pre-configure the UE with a specific N search order or theUE may randomly select the order in which to search N. In someembodiments, the UE may utilize the same N for searching intra-frequencycell searches as the N the UE utilized on the serving cell (the cellthat signaled the assistance information to the UE).

Some embodiments utilize delay ordered N approaches for determining N.FIG. 6A shows a flow diagram 600-a based on a delay order N approach forinitial acquisition. For example, delay ordered N approaches may beutilized for initial acquisition. This example utilizes N=1, 2, 4, and8, though other values may be utilized in other cases. When no a prioriinformation may be available on how many carriers are full BW (N=1),half BW (N=2), quarter BW (N=4) etc., some embodiments assume that theyequally probable (i.e., their weights are same). In such a case, tryingprogressively higher value of N may minimize the acquisition delay withrespect to legacy systems. For example, a flexible bandwidth UE may tryN=1 hypothesis as seen in block 605. If it fails at block 610, it maytry N=2 hypothesis at block 615. If it also fails at block 620, it maytry N=4 hypothesis at block 625, and so on as seen in blocks 630 and635, until a system is acquired at block 640. Delay ordered N approachesmay be utilized for inter-frequency searches. Other embodiments mayutilize other values of N, besides 1, 2, 4, or 8. Furthermore, someembodiments may utilizing parallel decoding or serially decoding. FIG.6B shows a flow diagram 600-b based on a delay order N approach forinter-frequency searches. For example, when no a priori information maybe available on how many carriers are full BW (N=1), half BW (N=2),quarter BW (N=4) etc., some embodiments assume equally probable (i.e.,their weights are same). In such a case, a flexible bandwidth UE may trythe value of N for the current frequency at block 650. If it issuccessful at block 655, system acquisition may occur at block 660. Ifit fails at block 655, flexible bandwidth UE may try N=1 if it is notthe current N value at block 665. If it fails at block 665, the flexiblebandwidth UE may try higher values of N one after another at block or670 or 675. Other embodiments may utilize other values of N, besides 1,2, 4, or 8. Furthermore, some embodiments may utilizing paralleldecoding or serially decoding. Flow diagrams 600-a and/or 600-b may beimplemented utilizing various wireless communications devices including,but not limited to: a user equipment 115 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG.3, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and/or FIG. 12; and/or a device 900 as seen in FIG.9.

Some embodiments utilize storing N value in UE neighbor recordapproaches for determining N. Information regarding the bandwidthscaling factor may be stored in other areas, including multiple areas.Other approaches may include a mapping of frequency to bandwidth scalingfactor (e.g., in a searching mechanism). In some cases, information suchas a flexible bandwidth itself may be stored rather than a bandwidthscaling factor for the flexible bandwidth. For example, a UE may keeprecords of cells signaled from the network and cells that have beendetected. Example of these records may include the UE maintainedneighbor list and/or the most recently used table (MRU), for example. Aneighbor list may include a list of cells that are signaled from thenetwork and have been identified (or unidentified) as well as cells notsignaled but detected by the UE, for example. For the identified anddetected cells, their corresponding carrier frequencies and PSCs may bemaintained in the record. Most Recently Used (MRU) tables may enable aUE to remember the most recently used systems (mode, band, and/orchannel) on which service was provided. The table may be ordered fromthe most recently used system to the least recently used system. In someembodiments, a flexible bandwidth UE now stores the N value offrequencies/carriers on which the UE previously camped or identified. Insome cases, there may only be one N value on any frequency. Thus, thehit for cell search and blind decode may only be for first time the UEattempts to acquire that cell/carrier. During subsequent times, the UEmay retrieve the N value from the record and attempts acquisition withthe N value. This approach may be used alone or in combination with theother N determination approaches. In some cases, an operator may use adifferent N even for the same frequency at different parts of theirnetwork (e.g. rural, sub urban, urban areas). The UE may map thelocation to the different Ns that the UE has detected. Also, the UE mayuse different methods at different locations. Other information (e.g.,PLMN) may be used in order to utilize a different database or method.

Some embodiments utilize methods for N estimation or determination frombandwidth (BW) measurement(s) by a UE. For example, the UE may be a goodspectrum analyzer and may be able to measure the bandwidth whileperforming the frequency scan. To estimate the effective transmissionbandwidth, the UE may measure the energy corresponding to the largesttransmission bandwidth possible (e.g., transmission bandwidth for N=1).After the frequency scan, the UE may determine the bandwidth of thewaveform (absolute bandwidth, or 3-dB bandwidth, or the equivalentbandwidth, for example). With the bandwidth known, the UE may infer thevalue of N or the bandwidth. It may be more efficient to determinespectrum bandwidth by using an algorithm that starts with the smallestpossible bandwidth. This may be expected to work for both full scan(power up or coming back to service) where many carrier frequencies maybe searched and list scan where a few carrier frequencies may be used.The spectral measurement method can be used alone or in combination withthe other bandwidth information determination approaches.

Some embodiments utilize spectrum calculation(s) for determiningbandwidth information, such as bandwidth scaling factors N and/orflexible bandwidths. Another approach involving spectrum estimation maybe possible when the UE has information (carrier frequency andbandwidth, for example) about neighboring inter-frequency cells. Forexample, by using carrier separation between two adjacent cells, the UEmay be able to compute the most likely bandwidth of a target cell. Forexample, if the carrier separation between target cell and neighboringcell is 5 MHz, then the target cell is likely an N=1 flexible bandwidthcell, if the separation is 3.75 MHz, then the target cell is likely N=2flexible bandwidth cell. FIG. 7 shows spectrum diagrams 700 that reflectthese two examples. For example, by using carrier separation 730 betweentwo adjacent cells 710 and 720, the UE may be able to compute the mostlikely bandwidth of a target cell. For example, if the carrierseparation 730-a between target cell 720-a and neighboring cell 710-a isa specific value, such as 5 MHz, then the target cell is likely an N=1flexible bandwidth cell. If the carrier separation 730-b is between atarget cell 720-b and a neighbor cell 710-b is another value, such as3.75 MHz, then the target cell 720-b is likely N=2 flexible bandwidthcell. This method may be susceptible to errors in case adjacent carrierinformation is unknown. For example, GSM cells or other flexiblebandwidth cells may be located next to the target cell but theinformation may not be available to the UE. The carrier separation maybe from the channel numbers. Spectrum diagrams 700 may be utilizing byvarious wireless communications devices including, but not limited to: auser equipment 115 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, FIG. 11,and/or FIG. 12; and/or a device 900 as seen in FIG. 9. The spectrumcalculation method can also be combined with other methods fordetermining the bandwidth scaling factor, N.

In some situations, there may be ambiguity with respect to the bandwidthscaling factors N. For example if there may be 3.75 MHz separation, onecarrier may be thought to be N=1 and the other N=2, but it may not knowwhich is which. In some situations, a bandwidth of one of the carriesmay be known. For example, if it is know that one carrier may be a fullbandwidth carrier (e.g., N=1) and the channel spacing may be 3.75 MHz,it may be possible to guess the bandwidth or the bandwidth scalingfactor of the other carrier, such as that the other carrier is a ½bandwidth carrier (e.g., N=2).

Some embodiments may utilize ordering with a priori information tofacilitate N determination. With no a priori assisting information, allN values (p_(i)) may be equally likely. Assuming the possibility of Mdifferent Ns and the weight for each N, W_(i), may be equally likely,then W_(i) may be expressed as:

W _(i) =p _(i=)1/M.

With some a priori information (e.g., 60% of cells are N=1 i.e. p₁=0.6,30% are N=8 i.e. p₈=0.3 and 10% are N=4 i.e. p₄=0.1), it may be possibleto assign weights (w) based on their likelihoods, such as:

W_(i)=p_(i) where p_(i)s are not equally likely.

Flexible bandwidth UE may attempt to decode N values in order ofdecreasing weights (e.g., tries N=1, then N=8 and then N=4 as W₁>W₈>W₄).For inter-frequency searches, flexible bandwidth UEs may follow the samestrategy as above. With additional information such as the acquisitiondelay associated with each N, the weights may be further augmented(e.g., W_(i)=p_(i)/d_(i), where d_(i) may be the acquisition delay forN=i; and d_(i)>d_(i) for i>j ¥d8˜2*d₄ and d₄˜2*d₂┐). Additionalinformation from other approaches (e.g., spectral measurement and/orspectrum calculation) maybe used to argument the weights.

FIG. 8 shows a communications diagram 800 that shows an example of a UEmoving from a UMTS cell, Cell A, to a flexible bandwidth carrier orcell, Cell B, with N=4. While the UE may be in idle mode on Cell B,flexible bandwidth carrier or cell information may be signaled to UE onSIB 11 (e.g., carrier frequency, primary scrambling code (PSC), etc.)but the N value for cell B may not be signaled. UE may determine N usingspectrum estimation and stores the N information for cell B) . . . UEmay determine N using spectrum estimation and may store the Ninformation for cell B. The UE may transition into connected mode withCell A for data or voice connection. In the connected mode, if the linkbetween the UE and the network experiences degradation in signalstrength, the network may provide compressed gaps to the UE to measureflexible bandwidth carrier or Cell B. Since Cell B may have already beenidentified in idle mode, the N and cell timing may be known so theacquisition delay may be minimized The UE may then measure the signalstrength on the cell and may add the cell to a virtual active set due incase the strong signal strength may be detected on that cell. In thecase the signal strength of Cell B is above a threshold, aninter-frequency event may be triggered so UE sends a measurement reportto the network. The network may order an inter-frequency handover incase the network finds the flexible bandwidth carrier or Cell B to bemore suited for the UE than Cell A. The UE may tune to flexiblebandwidth carrier or Cell B and may update the network with its location(e.g., sending a routing area update (RAU) or a location area update(LAU) as currently performed in UMTS networks). Aspects ofcommunications diagram 800 may be implemented in whole or in partutilizing various wireless communications devices including, but notlimited to: a base station 105 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG.11, and/or FIG. 12; a device 900 as seen in FIG. 9, a core network 130and/or controller 120 as seen in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 11,: and/or a userequipment 115 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, FIG. 11,and/or FIG. 12.

Turning next to FIG. 9, a block diagram illustrates a device 900 forwireless communications in accordance with various embodiments. Thedevice 900 may be an example of one or more aspects of user equipment115 described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, FIG.11, and/or FIG. 12. The device 900 may also be a processor. The device900 may include a receiver module 905, a flexible bandwidth informationdetermination module 910, and/or a transmitter module 915. Each of thesecomponents may be in communication with each other.

These components of the device 900 may, individually or collectively, beimplemented with one or more application-specific integrated circuits(ASICs) adapted to perform some or all of the applicable functions inhardware. Alternatively, the functions may be performed by one or moreother processing units (or cores), on one or more integrated circuits.In other embodiments, other types of integrated circuits may be used(e.g., Structured/Platform ASICs, Field Programmable Gate Arrays(FPGAs), and other Semi-Custom ICs), which may be programmed in anymanner known in the art. The functions of each unit may also beimplemented, in whole or in part, with instructions embodied in amemory, formatted to be executed by one or more general orapplication-specific processors.

The flexible bandwidth information determination module 910 may beconfigured to interpret a first set of received data at a user equipment(UE). The flexible bandwidth information determination module 910 may beconfigured to determine bandwidth information associated with a flexiblebandwidth carrier may be determined at the UE utilizing the first set ofreceived data. The bandwidth information may include a second set ofdata different from the first set of data in that the second set of dataincludes the bandwidth information. The bandwidth information mayinclude least a bandwidth scaling factor or a bandwidth associated withthe flexible bandwidth carrier.

The flexible bandwidth information determination module 910 may beconfigured to utilize, at the UE, the determined bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier to facilitate mobilitymanagement with respect to the flexible bandwidth carrier. Someembodiments of device 900 may include a mobility management module (notshown). Facilitating mobility management may include facilitatingmobility between the one or more flexible bandwidth carriers and anotherflexible bandwidth carrier, where the flexible bandwidth carriersutilize the same bandwidth information, such as the same bandwidthscaling factors and/or the same flexible bandwidth. Facilitatingmobility management may include facilitating mobility between the one ofmore flexible bandwidth carriers and another flexible bandwidth carrier,where the flexible bandwidth carriers utilize different bandwidthinformation. Facilitating mobility management may include facilitatingmobility between the one of more flexible bandwidth carriers and normalbandwidth carrier.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier using the flexible bandwidth information determinationmodule 910 may include utilizing a random sequence of bandwidth scalingfactors to determine the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier. Determining the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing apre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determine thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.The pre-determined sequence may include a sequence of increasingbandwidth scaling factors. The pre-determined sequence may include asequence of bandwidth scaling factors starting with a current bandwidthscaling factor of a cell sending the first set of received data. Forexample, this sequence may be set by a manufacturer, can be set by anoperator, can be set in a SIM, determined the UE and stored forsubsequent use, etc. Utilizing the pre-determined sequence of bandwidthscaling factors may utilize one or more cell search and blind decodes ofa flexible bandwidth cell based on the bandwidth scaling factors fromthe pre-determined sequence.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier using the flexible bandwidth information determinationmodule 910 may include utilizing a stored bandwidth scaling factor.Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing one or more spectrummeasurements. Determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing one or more spectrumcalculations.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier using the flexible bandwidth information determinationmodule 910 may include utilizing a priori information regarding one ormore bandwidth scaling factors of the flexible bandwidth carrier.Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a priori information regardingthe probability of deploying one or more flexible bandwidth carrierswith one or more bandwidth scaling factors in a given area. Determiningthe bandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carriermay include utilizing a priori information regarding the probability ofdeploying one or more flexible bandwidth carriers with one or morebandwidth scaling factors in a given area combined with the delayordered scaling factor approach. The a priori information may be atleast transmitted to the UE, calculated at the UE and used subsequently,or provided to the UE through a SIM. The bandwidth information maydepend upon a location.

In some embodiments, the receiver module 905 is used to receive thefirst set of data from the serving cell and also receive the controlchannel data from the fractional carrier during cell search andacquisition. In some embodiments, the transmitter module is used totransmit message either to a serving cell or the flexible banddwidhtcarrier whose N and/or flexible bandwidth was determined using theflexible bandwidth information determination 910. In some embodiments,the flexible bandwidth information determination module 910 instructsthe receiver module 905 to receive different bandwidth information, suchas scaling factors N and/or flexible bandwidths. In some embodiments,the transmitter module 915 may transmit information regarding flexiblewaveforms, scaling factors, and/or flexible bandwidths from the device900 to a base stations or a core network. In some embodiments, thetransmitter module 915 may transmit information, such as flexiblewaveforms, scaling factors, and/or flexible bandwidths to base stationsor a core network such that these devices or systems may utilizeflexible waveforms.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram 1000 of a user equipment 115-e configured forwireless communication, including in some cases configurations tofacilitate the mobility management, in accordance with variousembodiments. The user equipment 115-e may have any of variousconfigurations, such as personal computers (e.g., laptop computers,netbook computers, tablet computers, etc.), cellular telephones, PDAs,digital video recorders (DVRs), internet appliances, gaming consoles,e-readers, etc. The user equipment 115-e may have an internal powersupply (not shown), such as a small battery, to facilitate mobileoperation. In some embodiments, the user equipment 115-e may be the userequipment 115 of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 11, and/or FIG. 12, and/orthe device 900 of FIG. 9. The user equipment 115-e may be a multi-modeuser equipment. The user equipment 115-e may be referred to as awireless communications device in some cases.

The user equipment 115-e may include antennas 1040, a transceiver module1050, memory 1080, and a processor module 1070, which each may be incommunication, directly or indirectly, with each other (e.g., via one ormore buses). The transceiver module 1050 is configured to communicatebi-directionally, via the antennas 1040 and/or one or more wired orwireless links, with one or more networks, as described above. Forexample, the transceiver module 1050 may be configured to communicatebi-directionally with base stations 105 of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG.11, and/or FIG. 12. The transceiver module 1050 may include a modemconfigured to modulate the packets and provide the modulated packets tothe antennas 1040 for transmission, and to demodulate packets receivedfrom the antennas 1040. While the user equipment 115-e may include asingle antenna, the user equipment 115-e will typically include multipleantennas 1040 for multiple links.

The memory 1080 may include random access memory (RAM) and read-onlymemory (ROM). The memory 1080 may store computer-readable,computer-executable software code 1085 containing instructions that areconfigured to, when executed, cause the processor module 1070 to performvarious functions described herein (e.g., call processing, databasemanagement, message routing, etc.). Alternatively, the software 1085 maynot be directly executable by the processor module 1070 but beconfigured to cause the computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) toperform functions described herein.

The processor module 1070 may include an intelligent hardware device,e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) such as those made by Intel®Corporation or AMD®, a microcontroller, an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The processor module 1070 may include aspeech encoder (not shown) configured to receive audio via a microphone,convert the audio into packets (e.g., 30 ms in length) representative ofthe received audio, provide the audio packets to the transceiver module1050, and provide indications of whether a user is speaking.Alternatively, an encoder may only provide packets to the transceivermodule 1050, with the provision or withholding/suppression of the packetitself providing the indication of whether a user is speaking.

According to the architecture of FIG. 10, the user equipment 115-e mayfurther include a communications management module 1060. Thecommunications management module 1060 may manage communications withother user equipment 115. By way of example, the communicationsmanagement module 1060 may be a component of the user equipment 115-e incommunication with some or all of the other components of the userequipment 115-e via a bus. Alternatively, functionality of thecommunications management module 1060 may be implemented as a componentof the transceiver module 1050, as a computer program product, and/or asone or more controller elements of the processor module 1070.

The components for user equipment 115-e may be configured to implementaspects discussed above with respect to device 900 of FIG. 9 and may notbe repeated here for the sake of brevity. For example, the bandwidthscaling factor determination module 910-a may be the flexible bandwidthinformation determination module 910 of FIG. 9. User equipment 115-e mayalso include a mobility management module 1005 configured to providemobility management as discussed above, for example, with respect todevice 900. The mobility management module 1005 may work with, or may bepart of, a handover module 1025 in some cases.

The user equipment 115-e may also include a spectrum identificationmodule 1015. In some cases, the spectrum identification module 1015 maybe implemented as part of the bandwidth scaling factor determinationmodule 910-a. The spectrum identification module 1015 may be utilized toidentify spectrum available for flexible waveforms. In some embodiments,the handover module 1025 may be utilized to perform handover proceduresof the user equipment 115-e from one base station to another. Forexample, the handover module 1025 may perform a handover procedure ofthe user equipment 115-e from one base station to another where normalwaveforms are utilized between the user equipment 115-e and one of thebase stations and flexible waveforms are utilized between the userequipment and another base station. In some cases, inter-frequencyhandover can happen within the same base station; handover may thus bewithin cells supported by the same base station. A scaling module 1010may be utilized to scale and/or alter chip rates to generate flexiblewaveforms. In some embodiments, the scaling module 1010 may beimplemented as part of the transceiver module 1050.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1050 in conjunction withantennas 1040, along with other possible components of user equipment115-e, may transmit information regarding flexible waveforms and/orscaling factors from the user equipment 115-e to base stations or a corenetwork. The transceiver module 1050 may also be used in receivingmessages from the network via a base station. In some embodiments, thetransceiver module 1050, in conjunction with antennas 1040 along withother possible components of user equipment 115-e, may transmitinformation, such as flexible waveforms and/or scaling factors, to basestations or a core network such that these devices or systems mayutilize flexible waveforms.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of a communications system 1100 that maybe configured for wireless communication in accordance with variousembodiments. This system 1100 may be an example of aspects of the system100 depicted in FIG. 1, systems 200 of FIG. 2, system 300 of FIG. 3,and/or system 1200 of FIG. 12. The base station 105-d may includeantennas 1145, a transceiver module 1150, memory 1170, and a processormodule 1165, which each may be in communication, directly or indirectly,with each other (e.g., over one or more buses). The transceiver module1150 may be configured to communicate bi-directionally, via the antennas1145, with the user equipment 115-f, which may be a multi-mode userequipment. The transceiver module 1150 (and/or other components of thebase station 105-d) may also be configured to communicatebi-directionally with one or more networks. In some cases, the basestation 105-d may communicate with the network 130-a and/or controller120-a through network communications module 1175. Base station 105-d maybe an example of an eNodeB base station, a Home eNodeB base station, aNodeB base station, and/or a Home NodeB base station. Controller 120-amay be integrated into base station 105-d in some cases, such as with aneNodeB base station.

Base station 105-d may also communicate with other base stations 105,such as base station 105-m and base station 105-n. Each of the basestations 105 may communicate with user equipment 115-f using differentwireless communications technologies, such as different Radio AccessTechnologies. In some cases, base station 105-d may communicate withother base stations such as 105-m and/or 105-n utilizing base stationcommunication module 1115. In some embodiments, base stationcommunication module 1115 may provide an X2 interface within an LTEwireless communication technology to provide communication between someof the base stations 105. In some embodiments, base station 105-d maycommunicate with other base stations through controller 120-a and/ornetwork 130-a.

The memory 1170 may include random access memory (RAM) and read-onlymemory (ROM). The memory 1170 may also store computer-readable,computer-executable software code 1171 containing instructions that areconfigured to, when executed, cause the processor module 1165 to performvarious functions described herein (e.g., call processing, databasemanagement, message routing, etc.). Alternatively, the software 1171 maynot be directly executable by the processor module 1165 but beconfigured to cause the computer, e.g., when compiled and executed, toperform functions described herein.

The processor module 1165 may include an intelligent hardware device,e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) such as those made by Intel®Corporation or AMD®, a microcontroller, an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The processor module 1165 may include aspeech encoder (not shown) configured to receive audio via a microphone,convert the audio into packets (e.g., 30 ms in length) representative ofthe received audio, provide the audio packets to the transceiver module1150, and provide indications of whether a user is speaking.Alternatively, an encoder may only provide packets to the transceivermodule 1150, with the provision or withholding/suppression of the packetitself providing the indication of whether a user is speaking.

The transceiver module 1150 may include a modem configured to modulatethe packets and provide the modulated packets to the antennas 1145 fortransmission, and to demodulate packets received from the antennas 1145.While some examples of the base station 105-d may include a singleantenna 1145, the base station 105-d preferably includes multipleantennas 1145 for multiple links which may support carrier aggregation.For example, one or more links may be used to support macrocommunications with user equipment 115-f.

According to the architecture of FIG. 11, the base station 105-d mayfurther include a communications management module 1130. Thecommunications management module 1130 may manage communications withother base stations 105. By way of example, the communicationsmanagement module 1130 may be a component of the base station 105-d incommunication with some or all of the other components of the basestation 105-d via a bus. Alternatively, functionality of thecommunications management module 1130 may be implemented as a componentof the transceiver module 1150, as a computer program product, and/or asone or more controller elements of the processor module 1165.

In some embodiments, a handover module 1125 may be utilized to performhandover procedures of the user equipment 115-f from one base station105 to another. For example, the handover module 1125 may perform ahandover procedure of the user equipment 115-f from base station 105-dto another where normal waveforms are utilized between the userequipment 115-f and one of the base stations and flexible waveforms areutilized between the user equipment and another base station. Thehandover module 1125 may be part of controller 120-a rather than part ofbase station 105-b in some embodiments, such as when system 1100 may bea UMTS system. In some cases, inter-frequency handover can happen withinthe same base station; handover may thus be within cells supported bythe same base station 105-d. A scaling module 1110 may be utilized toscale and/or alter chip rates to generate flexible waveforms. In someembodiments, the scaling module 1110 may be implemented as part of thetransceiver 1150.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1150 in conjunction withantennas 1145, along with other possible components of base station105-d, may transmit information regarding flexible waveforms and/orbandwidth scaling factors from the base station 105-d to the userequipment 115-f, to other base stations 105-m/ 105-n, or core network130-a. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 1150 in conjunctionwith antennas 1145, along with other possible components of base station105-d, may transmit information to the user equipment 115-f, to otherbase stations 105-m/ 105-n, or core network 130-a, such as flexiblewaveforms and/or bandwidth scaling factors, such that these devices orsystems may utilize flexible waveforms. The transceiver module 1050 mayalso be used in receiving messages from the network via a base station.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a system 1200 including a base station105-e and a user equipment 115-g in accordance with various embodiments.This system 1200 may be an example of the system 100 of FIG. 1, systems200 of FIG. 2, system 300 of FIG. 3, and/or system 1100 of FIG. 11. Thebase station 105-e may be equipped with antennas 1234-a through 1234-x,and the user equipment 115-g may be equipped with antennas 1252-athrough 1252-n. At the base station 105-e, a transmit processor 1220 mayreceive data from a data source.

The transmitter processor 1220 may process the data. The transmitterprocessor 1220 may also generate reference symbols, and a cell-specificreference signal. A transmit (TX) MIMO processor 1230 may performspatial processing (e.g., precoding) on data symbols, control symbols,and/or reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide output symbolstreams to the transmit modulators 1232-a through 1232-x. Each modulator1232 may process a respective output symbol stream (e.g., for OFDM,etc.) to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator 1232 may furtherprocess (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) theoutput sample stream to obtain a downlink (DL) signal. In one example,DL signals from modulators 1232-a through 1232-x may be transmitted viathe antennas 1234-a through 1234-x, respectively. The transmitterprocessor 1220 may receive information from a processor 1240. Theprocessor 1240 may be configured to generate flexible waveforms throughaltering a chip rate and/or utilizing a bandwidth scaling factor; thismay be done dynamically in some cases. The processor 1240 may alsoprovide for different alignment and/or offsetting procedures. Theprocessor 1240 may also utilize scaling and/or chip rate information toperform measurements on the other subsystems, perform handoffs to theother subsystems, etc. In some cases, the measurement and/or handoff maybe coordinated at a separate controller rather than the base station105-d. The processor 1240 may invert the effects of time stretchingassociated with the use of flexible bandwidth through parameter scaling.In some embodiments, the processor 1240 may be implemented as part of ageneral processor, the transmitter processor 1220, and/or the receiverprocessor 1238.

At the user equipment 115-g, the user equipment antennas 1252-a through1252-n may receive the DL signals from the base station 105-e and mayprovide the received signals to the demodulators 1254-a through 1254-n,respectively. Each demodulator 1254 may condition (e.g., filter,amplify, downconvert, and digitize) a respective received signal toobtain input samples. Each demodulator 1254 may further process theinput samples (e.g., for OFDM, etc.) to obtain received symbols. A MIMOdetector 1256 may obtain received symbols from all the demodulators1254-a through 1254-n, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols ifapplicable, and provide detected symbols. A receive processor 1258 mayprocess (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, and decode) the detectedsymbols, providing decoded data for the user equipment 115-g to a dataoutput, and provide decoded control information to a processor 1280, ormemory 1282.

On the uplink (UL), at the user equipment 115-g, a transmitter processor1264 may receive and process data from a data source. The transmitterprocessor 1264 may also generate reference symbols for a referencesignal. The symbols from the transmitter processor 1264 may be precodedby a transmit MIMO processor 1266 if applicable, further processed bythe demodulators 1254-a through 1254-n (e.g., for SC-FDMA, etc.), and betransmitted to the base station 105-e in accordance with thetransmission parameters received from the base station 105-e. Thetransmitter processor 1264 may also be configured to generate flexiblewaveforms through altering a chip rate and/or utilizing a bandwidthscaling factor; this may be done dynamically in some cases. Thetransmitter processor 1264 may receive information from processor 1280.The processor 1280 may provide for different alignment and/or offsettingprocedures. The processor 1280 may also utilize scaling and/or chip rateinformation to perform measurements on the other subsystems, performhandoffs to the other subsystems, perform reselection, etc. Theprocessor 1280 may invert the effects of time stretching associated withthe use of flexible bandwidth through parameter scaling. At the basestation 105-e, the UL signals from the user equipment 115-g may bereceived by the antennas 1234, processed by the demodulators 1232,detected by a MIMO detector 1236 if applicable, and further processed bya receive processor. The receive processor 1238 may provide decoded datato a data output and to the processor 1280. In some embodiments, theprocessor 1280 may be implemented as part of a general processor, thetransmitter processor 1264, and/or the receiver processor 1258.

In some embodiments, the processor 1280 is configured mobilitymanagement in accordance with various embodiments. For example,processor 1280 or other components of user equipment 115-g may beconfigured for determining bandwidth information, such as bandwidthscaling factors and/or flexible bandwidths, at user equipment 115-g.Different approaches may be utilized in determining bandwidthinformation including, but not limited to: random ordered bandwidthscaling factor approaches, delay ordered bandwidth scaling factorapproaches, stored bandwidth scaling factor value in UE Neighbor Recordapproaches, spectrum measurement approaches, spectrum calculationapproaches, and/or a priori approaches. Some embodiments includeinterpreting a first set of received data at processor 1280. Bandwidthinformation associated with a flexible bandwidth carrier may bedetermined with processor 1280 utilizing the first set of received data.The bandwidth information may include a second set of data differentfrom the first set of data in that the second set of data includes thebandwidth information. Determining the bandwidth information at the userequipment 115-g may facilitate mobility management with respect to aflexible bandwidth carrier, which may be utilized by base station 105-ethat may also utilize the determined bandwidth information.

Processor 1280 or other components of user equipment 115-g may utilizethe determined bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier to facilitate mobility management with respect to theflexible bandwidth carrier. Facilitating mobility management may includefacilitating mobility between the one of more flexible bandwidthcarriers and another flexible bandwidth carrier, where the flexiblebandwidth carriers utilize the same scaling factor. Facilitatingmobility management may include facilitating mobility between the one ofmore flexible bandwidth carriers and another flexible bandwidth carrier,where the flexible bandwidth carriers utilize different scaling factor.Facilitating mobility management may include facilitating mobilitybetween the one of more flexible bandwidth carriers and normal bandwidthcarrier.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier using processor 1280 or other components of userequipment 115-g may include utilizing a random sequence of bandwidthscaling factors to determine the bandwidth information associated withthe flexible bandwidth carrier. Determining the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing apre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determine thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.The pre-determined sequence may include a sequence of increasingbandwidth scaling factors. The pre-determined sequence may include asequence of bandwidth scaling factors starting with a current bandwidthscaling factor of a cell sending the first set of received data.Utilizing the pre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors mayutilize one or more cell search and blind decodes of a flexiblebandwidth cell based on the bandwidth scaling factors from thepre-determined sequence.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier with processor 1280 or other components of userequipment 115-g may include utilizing a stored bandwidth scaling factor.Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing one or more spectrummeasurements. Determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing one or more spectrumcalculations.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier with processor 1280 or other components of userequipment 115-g may include utilizing a priori information regarding oneor more bandwidth scaling factors of the flexible bandwidth carrier.Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a priori information regardingthe probability of deploying one or more flexible bandwidth carrierswith one or more bandwidth scaling factors in a given area. Determiningthe bandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carriermay include utilizing a priori information regarding the probability ofdeploying one or more flexible bandwidth carriers with one or morebandwidth scaling factors in a given area combined with the delayordered scaling factor approach.

Turning to FIG. 13A, a flow diagram of a method 1300-a of wirelesscommunications in accordance with various embodiments is provided.Method 1300-a may be implemented utilizing various wirelesscommunications devices including, but not limited to: a user equipment115 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and/or FIG. 12;and/or a device 900 as seen in FIG. 9.

At block 1305, a first set of received data may be interpreted at a userequipment (UE). At block 1310, a bandwidth information associated with aflexible bandwidth carrier may be determined at the UE utilizing thefirst set of received data. The bandwidth information may include asecond set of data different from the first set of data in that thesecond set of data includes the bandwidth information. The bandwidthinformation may include least a bandwidth scaling factor or a bandwidthassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.

Some embodiments include utilizing, at the UE, the determined bandwidthinformation associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier to facilitatemobility management with respect to the flexible bandwidth carrier.Facilitating mobility management may include facilitating mobilitybetween the one of more flexible bandwidth carriers and another flexiblebandwidth carrier, where the flexible bandwidth carriers utilize thesame bandwidth information. Facilitating mobility management may includefacilitating mobility between the one of more flexible bandwidthcarriers and another flexible bandwidth carrier, where the flexiblebandwidth carriers utilize different bandwidth information. Facilitatingmobility management may include facilitating mobility between the one ofmore flexible bandwidth carriers and normal bandwidth carrier.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a random sequence of bandwidthscaling factors to determine the bandwidth information associated withthe flexible bandwidth carrier. Determining the bandwidth informationassociated with the flexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing apre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors to determine thebandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier.The pre-determined sequence may include a sequence of increasingbandwidth scaling factors. The pre-determined sequence may include asequence of bandwidth scaling factors starting with a current bandwidthscaling factor of a cell sending the first set of received data.Utilizing the pre-determined sequence of bandwidth scaling factors mayutilize one or more cell search and blind decodes of a flexiblebandwidth cell based on the bandwidth scaling factors from thepre-determined sequence. The sequence of bandwidth scaling factors maybe at least determined by the UE and stored for subsequent use, set by amanufacturer, set by an operator, or set in a SIM. These techniques mayutilize a sequence of flexible bandwidths instead of a sequence ofbandwidth scaling factors.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a stored bandwidth scalingfactor. Determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing one or more spectrummeasurements. Determining the bandwidth information associated with theflexible bandwidth carrier may include utilizing one or more spectrumcalculations. The bandwidth information may depend upon a location.

Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a priori information regardingone or more bandwidth scaling factors of the flexible bandwidth carrier.Determining the bandwidth information associated with the flexiblebandwidth carrier may include utilizing a priori information regardingthe probability of deploying one or more flexible bandwidth carrierswith one or more bandwidth scaling factors in a given area. Determiningthe bandwidth information associated with the flexible bandwidth carriermay include utilizing a priori information regarding the probability ofdeploying one or more flexible bandwidth carriers with one or morebandwidth scaling factors in a given area combined with the delayordered scaling factor approach. The a priori information may be atleast transmitted to the UE, calculated at the UE and used subsequently,or provided to the UE through a SIM.

Turning to FIG. 13B, a flow diagram of a method 1300-b of wirelesscommunications in accordance with various embodiments is provided.Method 1300-b may be implemented utilizing various wirelesscommunications devices including, but not limited to: a user equipment115 as seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and/or FIG. 12;and/or a device 900 as seen in FIG. 9. Method 1300-a may be an exampleof method 1300-b of FIG. 13B.

At block 1305-a, transmissions related to a flexible bandwidth carriermay be received at a user equipment without receiving a bandwidthscaling factor associated with the flexible bandwidth carrier. At block1310-a, the bandwidth scaling factor of the flexible bandwidth carriermay be determined at the UE utilizing the received transmissions relatedto the flexible bandwidth carrier without receiving the bandwidthscaling factor. At block 1315, the determined bandwidth scaling factormay be utilized at the UE to facilitate mobility with respect to theflexible bandwidth carrier associated with the bandwidth scaling factor.

The detailed description set forth above in connection with the appendeddrawings describes exemplary embodiments and does not represent the onlyembodiments that may be implemented or that are within the scope of theclaims. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means“serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred”or “advantageous over other embodiments.” The detailed descriptionincludes specific details for the purpose of providing an understandingof the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practicedwithout these specific details. In some instances, well-known structuresand devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuringthe concepts of the described embodiments.

Information and signals may be represented using any of a variety ofdifferent technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions,commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may bereferenced throughout the above description may be represented byvoltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles,optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection withthe disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Ageneral-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope and spirit of the disclosure and appended claims. For example,due to the nature of software, functions described above can beimplemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware,hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementingfunctions may also be physically located at various positions, includingbeing distributed such that portions of functions are implemented atdifferent physical locations. Also, as used herein, including in theclaims, “or” as used in a list of items prefaced by “at least one of”indicates a disjunctive list such that, for example, a list of “at leastone of A, B, or C” means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., Aand B and C).

Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media andcommunication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of acomputer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be anyavailable medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation,computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desiredprogram code means in the form of instructions or data structures andthat can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer,or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connectionis properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if thesoftware is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote sourceusing a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio,and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosure is provided to enable aperson skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Variousmodifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scopeof the disclosure. Throughout this disclosure the term “example” or“exemplary” indicates an example or instance and does not imply orrequire any preference for the noted example. Thus, the disclosure isnot to be limited to the examples and designs described herein but is tobe accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communications comprising:receiving, at a user equipment (UE), mobility assistance informationconveyed by a first bandwidth carrier; performing spectral measurementsof a second bandwidth carrier associated with the mobility assistanceinformation; and determining, at the UE, a scaling factor associatedwith the second bandwidth carrier based at least in part on the spectralmeasurements, wherein the scaling factor comprises a ratio between abandwidth of the first bandwidth carrier and a bandwidth of the secondbandwidth carrier.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:utilizing a sequence of scaling factors to determine the scaling factor.3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sequence of scaling factorscomprises a random sequence of scaling factors.
 4. The method of claim2, wherein the sequence of scaling factors comprises a pre-determinedsequence of scaling factors.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein thepre-determined sequence comprises a sequence of increasing scalingfactors.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the pre-determined sequencecomprises a sequence of scaling factors starting with a current scalingfactor of a cell sending the mobility assistance information.
 7. Themethod of claim 4, wherein utilizing the pre-determined sequence ofscaling factors comprises: utilizing one or more cell search and blinddecodes of a cell associated with the second bandwidth carrier based onthe scaling factors from the pre-determined sequence.
 8. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the sequence of scaling factors is at least determinedby the UE and stored for subsequent use, set by a manufacturer, set byan operator, or set in a SIM.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinperforming spectral measurements of the second bandwidth carriercomprises: performing a frequency scan of the second bandwidth carrier;and measuring a bandwidth of the second bandwidth carrier during thefrequency scan.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein measuring thebandwidth of the second bandwidth carrier comprises: measuring energycorresponding to a transmission bandwidth of the second bandwidthcarrier.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein performing spectralmeasurements of the second bandwidth carrier comprises: determining aseparation in the frequency domain between the first bandwidth carrierand the second bandwidth carrier, wherein determining the scaling factoris based at least in part on the separation.
 12. A wirelesscommunications system, the system comprising: means for receiving, at auser equipment (UE), mobility assistance information conveyed by a firstbandwidth carrier; means for performing spectral measurements of asecond bandwidth carrier associated with the mobility assistanceinformation; and means for determining, at the UE, a scaling factorassociated with the second bandwidth carrier based at least in part onthe spectral measurements, wherein the scaling factor comprises a ratiobetween a bandwidth of the first bandwidth carrier and a bandwidth ofthe second bandwidth carrier.
 13. The wireless communications system ofclaim 12, further comprising: means for utilizing a sequence of scalingfactors to determine the scaling factor.
 14. The wireless communicationssystem of claim 13, wherein the sequence of scaling factors comprises arandom sequence of scaling factors.
 15. The wireless communicationssystem of claim 13, wherein the sequence of scaling factors comprises apre-determined sequence of scaling factors.
 16. The wirelesscommunications system of claim 15, wherein the pre-determined sequencecomprises a sequence of increasing scaling factors.
 17. The wirelesscommunications system of claim 15, wherein the pre-determined sequencecomprises a sequence of scaling factors starting with a current scalingfactor of a cell sending the mobility assistance information.
 18. Thewireless communications system of claim 15, wherein the means forutilizing the pre-determined sequence of scaling factors comprises:means for utilizing one or more cell search and blind decodes of a cellassociated with the second bandwidth carrier based on the scalingfactors from the pre-determined sequence.
 19. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication, thecode comprising instructions executable by a processor to: receive, at auser equipment (UE), mobility assistance information conveyed by a firstbandwidth carrier; perform spectral measurements of a second bandwidthcarrier associated with the mobility assistance information; anddetermine, at the UE, a scaling factor associated with the secondbandwidth carrier based at least in part on the spectral measurements,wherein the scaling factor comprises a ratio between a bandwidth of thefirst bandwidth carrier and a bandwidth of the second bandwidth carrier.20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein thecode further includes instructions executable by the processor to:utilize a sequence of scaling factors to determine the scaling factor.21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein thesequence of scaling factors comprises a random sequence of scalingfactors.
 22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19,wherein the sequence of scaling factors comprises a pre-determinedsequence of scaling factors.
 23. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 22, wherein the pre-determined sequence comprises asequence of increasing scaling factors.
 24. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructionsexecutable by the processor to utilize the pre-determined sequence ofscaling factors further comprises instructions executable by theprocessor to: utilize one or more cell search and blind decodes of acell associated with the second bandwidth carrier based on the scalingfactors from the pre-determined sequence.
 25. A wireless communicationsdevice comprising: a processor; memory in electronic communication withthe processor; and instructions stored in the memory and operable, whenexecuted by the processor, to cause the wireless communications deviceto: receive, at the wireless communications device, mobility assistanceinformation conveyed by a first bandwidth carrier; perform spectralmeasurements of a second bandwidth carrier associated with the mobilityassistance information; and determine, at the wireless communicationsdevice, a scaling factor associated with the second bandwidth carrierbased at least in part on the spectral measurements, wherein the scalingfactor comprises a ratio between a bandwidth of the first bandwidthcarrier and a bandwidth of the second bandwidth carrier.
 26. Thewireless communications device of claim 25, wherein the instructions arefurther executable by the processor to: utilize a sequence of scalingfactors to determine the scaling factor.
 27. The wireless communicationsdevice of claim 26, wherein the sequence of scaling factors comprises arandom sequence of scaling factors.
 28. The wireless communicationsdevice of claim 25, wherein the sequence of scaling factors comprises apre-determined sequence of scaling factors.
 29. The wirelesscommunications device of claim 28, wherein the pre-determined sequencecomprises a sequence of increasing scaling factors.
 30. The wirelesscommunications device of claim 28, wherein the instructions operable tocause the wireless communications device to utilize the pre-determinedsequence of scaling factors further comprise instructions operable tocause the wireless communications device to: utilize one or more cellsearch and blind decodes of a cell associated with the second bandwidthcarrier based on the scaling factors from the pre-determined sequence.